Ezra, who’s essentially carrying me without breaking a sweat, looks at me and says, “Jax wouldn’t miss the birth of his son, would he?”
I smile at my bodyguard and most importantly, my friend. He didn’t have to be so nice. He didn’t have to give a shit about me, but he did. And not only that, he and Jax have been working together to find a level ground for them to be on.
They worked together on protecting me, and it brought actual real tears to my eyes thinking that their common interest lies in keeping me safe.
I don’t deserve either of them.
Thea looks over at me, and I watch her, waiting for an answer on where Jax is. “He must not have his phone, but no worries. I will call around.” She smiles at me, grasping my free hand that’s not wrapped around Ezra. “We’ll get him.”
35
jax
What a shithole.I glance around the abandoned hotel building, at least, it looked abandoned, and cover my nose for a minute, trying to save myself from the rotten stench.
We are on the edge of Denver, in an area I never want to return to in my life, looking for the address that Mitch’s contact gave us. I still have no clue who Mitch talked with, but I don’t care. I am ready to find our piece of shit father, lay it out for him, and be done with all of this.
“What are you going to say?” Mitch asks, talking for the first time since we left the ranch. Neither one of us looks like we fit in this area. Our cowboy hats, canvas coats, jeans, and boots don’t exactly scream city boys.
“To get the hell out of my life,” I reply, still not completely sure what I am going to say. All I know is that I have two people who are counting on me to be there for them, and bringing unwanted people into their lives isn’t what they need.
“I highly doubt that he’s gonna listen to that, Jax,” Mitch says as we reach the elevator. I stare at the out-of-order sign and sigh,looking toward the start of the staircase. “Floor six,” Mitch says as we start on the stairs.
They creak underfoot, and when we get to the first one, there are sounds coming from behind the hotel doors. I’m grateful no one is lingering in the halls, asking questions. I want to get in, say my piece, and get out.
“I have to try,” is all I can say in return, focusing on one step at a time. The smell is still horrible and gradually changes from one horrific smell to another as we land on each floor.
Finally, at the sixth, there is a long hallway that stretches about a hundred feet, and I look for the right hotel number. I am shocked a place like this has anything on file at all.
Finding it, I take a breath and refuse to look at my brother, who is acting as my bodyguard, having my back as I reach up and knock on the door.
A coughing sound comes from the other side, along with several voices, and I brace myself for meeting his familiar face.
Instead, I come face-to-face with the guy who took the lead on beating the shit out of me a few months ago. He gives me a nod, looking at Mitch with obvious concern.
I can’t really say I blame him. Mitch is the biggest out of us four boys and can knock you out with one punch.
Suddenly, I am actually grateful for my brother’s backup. Not that I will tell him that.
“Keith, you have visitors,” the guy announces, opening the door, making it clear we are welcome into the apartment.
I don’t step inside.
I did that once. I allowed myself to get comfortable around my biological father. I let myself think that we were turning over a new leaf. Instead, I got hooked on shit I wish I’d never touched and nearly got caught under the wheels of my father’s machine.
Keith comes to the door, looking worse for wear. He’s aged since I last saw him months ago, and I have a feeling it has something to do with the drugs he let himself sample.
His eyes widen as he takes in Mitch, not surprised to see me then before he puts on a fake smile for the both of us. “Well, if it isn’t my boys.” He holds an arm up in gesture, and I keep my hands down at my sides, refusing to fall into any trap.
Felicity and our son are my future. Not this piece of shit. Never him.
“I didn’t expect to see you.” He leans against the doorjamb, maybe sensing that we aren’t here for a friendly visit. His eyes are on Mitch, looking him up and down. “You sure are a big fucker. Get that from your mom’s dad. He was a scary son of a bitch, that’s for sure.”
I’m sure Mitch is thrilled to know that he’s being compared to our mother’s side of the family and not the man in front of us.
Keith’s eyes move toward me, and he gives me a smile. “Jax, my boy! Finally back for some work?”
He lifts a cigarette to his mouth, digging into his pocket for a lighter before lifting it and lighting the cigarette, blowing out a breath of smoke. I can tell he’s trying to get a reaction from me, but I hold firm.
